Foundations and Current Issues of Early Childhood Education/Chapter 4/4.3

Kindergarten Already!! Where did the time GO??

Introduction
Most parents worry a great deal about their children, as they approach every age and developmental stage from teething to potty training. But the one thing that parents obsess mostly about is deciding whether or not their children are really ready for kindergarten. Some school districts depend on age as the influential factor, some teachers believe that one of the most important features to determine if a child is ready for kindergarten is how much previous understanding he or she has acquired in a school setting. Some of the frequent questions that parents ask are: Is my child ready for kindergarten? Should I send my child with a late summer or fall birthday to kindergarten, or should I wait another year? Will my child fit in with the rest of the children? Will my child get along with the teacher? Will my child be taught everything he or she needs to know? These are some of the questions puzzling parents as they look ahead to elementary school. Some of the answers to these questions can be answered by investigating the kindergarten your child will attend. The parents should find out how many children are in the class, what is the age range in the class, how much support is available to the teacher, such as aides and volunteers, how and when are they trained, how does the teacher guarantee children learn at their own pace, and what techniques are engaged in teaching the children who assimilate concepts faster or slower than the average? Parents should call the school and make an appointment to visit and observe the kindergarten class. Teachers should suggest parents to share their values and goals so that teachers can give the child the best assistance possible.

Kindergarten Readiness: Age or Skills
Moreover, schools seem to expect the children entering kindergarten to know a lot more information than when we were in school. But what if the child does not know their colors or can not tell the letter "A" from "Z"? It does not necessarily mean that the child is not ready for kindergarten; some children are just late bloomers. That is precisely why I don't agree with the assumption of birth date solely deciding if a child is ready or not. As a matter of fact, age is one of the indicators that schools look at. Educators need to tell parents that they are their children's first and most important teacher. Parents should not be afraid to do what's best for their children. They know what is best for their children. “But most early childhood educators agree that a child's brain development is the most important gauge of readiness for kindergarten. In other words, your child may be small for his age, and lagging behind other kids socially and physically, but if his language, thinking, and perceptual skills are in place, then he'll probably do well in kindergarten.” (ParentCenter editorial staff, 1997–2007)

What tests are being used?
Furthermore, a lot of elementary schools are now testing kindergarten at the beginning of the school year. The tests are used to see how much a child knows and how much assistance a child needs. Portsmouth districts test children before or shortly after the school year has started. In Portsmouth all kindergartners are assessed by the teacher which uses the Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening (PALS). If the child has a low PALS score, they will receive assistance from the reading specialist. “PALS-K is a measure of children’s knowledge of several important literacy fundamentals: phonological awareness, alphabet recognition, concept of word, knowledge of letter sounds and spelling. PALS-K provides a direct means of matching literacy instruction to specific literacy needs and provides a means of identifying those children who are relatively behind in their acquisition of these fundamental”. (The Rector and the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, 2007)

Student Checklists
Although there is no perfect test for parents to check to see if their child is ready for kindergarten, there are many internet articles that have checklists on them, which can assist parents with their child’s development. In one article, “Kindergarten Readiness Checklist”, it suggests a checklist that helps parents to see how well their child is doing in obtaining skills that are found in most kindergarten classes. The article also states that parents should recheck the same skills every month to see how their child is progressing. Some of the checklist suggestions are:

• Listen to stories without interrupting

• Recognize rhyming sounds

• Understand actions have both causes and effects

• Show understanding of general times of day

• Cut with scissors

• Trace basic shapes

• Begin to share with others

• Start to follow rules

• Be able to recognize authority

• Manage bathroom needs

• Begin to control oneself

• Button shirts, pants, coats, and zip up zippers

• Separate from parents without being upset

• Speak understandably

• Identify rhyming words

• Talk in complete sentences of five to six words

• Look at pictures and then tell stories

• Identify the beginning sound of some words

• Identify some alphabet letters

• Count to ten

• Recognize some common sight words like "stop"

• Bounce a ball

• Pay attention for short periods of time to adult-directed tasks

• Sort similar objects by color, size, and shape

• Recognize groups of one, two, three, four, and five objects

(Kindergarten Readiness Checklist, 2000–2007)

Preparing Parents
On the other hand, schools can identify other fundamental skills that the children need, which can help parents prepare their children for kindergarten. In the journal article, “Readiness for Kindergarten: What Schools Can Do”, it claims: “developing a community-wide understanding of skills and knowledge important to children as they enter kindergarten, and providing information and education to other childcare providers- including families and private pre kindergartens- so that they are better able to help children develop these skills and knowledge”. (Protheroe, 34)

In additionally, schools can help parents understand kindergarten readiness by scheduling meetings that focus on it. By understanding kindergarten readiness teachers and parents can increase the proper activities for the children. “Through the meetings, administrators and teachers can provide the school district’s educational philosophy, learning models, curriculum structure, and detailed screening process for kindergarten admission”. (Choi, Kim, Murdock 14)

Teachers and Administrator
The school administrators and teachers expect children to develop certain physical skills before they enter kindergarten. Children are expected to have succeeded in many skills such as walking, running, and climbing, and fine motor skills requiring eye-hand coordination. For example, some of the eye-hand coordination skills are just the use of a pencil, crayons, or scissors. Fine motor skills are utilized when the child begins to write their name. It is understood that children have obtained both visual and auditory discrimination of objects and sounds. Some of these skills are used to learn the names and sounds of letter and the names and quantities of numerals. Children are expected to have developed the idea of same and different, so that they can sort objects into groups whose members are alike in some way. Most kindergarten teacher expected their children to recognize and name colors, shapes, sizes, and their own names. Many school systems and states have risen the entrance age for kindergarten in hopes that the older age of the class will increase the likelihood of the children's success.

Conclusion
In short, kindergarten readiness depends on a child's development of social motor skills and language skills. A good way for parents to help their children is by reading books everyday. Reading will not only increase their vocabulary, their personal growth, but also develop their brain. As a parent I firmly believe that reading will assist children in their daily growth to becoming intelligent students.

SIDEBAR
Kindergarten is an important step on the course of education. A little kindness and preparation from parents and teachers can make this step an enjoyable and flourishing time for your child.

Multiple – Choice Questions
1. Which one of these examples is not an example that is on the checklist?

a. Identify rhyming words

b. Begin to share with others

c. Count to ten

d. Learning how to hit others

'''2. Children are expected to have succeeded in many skills. Which one does not belong?'''

a. Walking

b. Running

c. Jumping

d. Climbing

3. What does most kindergarten teacher expect from their children to recognize?

a. Colors, shapes, sizes, and their own names.

b. Age, race and shoe size

c. Hair and eye color

d. Who their best friend is going to be?

'''4. What are some eye-hand coordination skills? (Which does not belong)'''

a. Writing with a pencil

b. Coloring with crayons

c. Cutting with scissors

d. Running down the hall

5. What does the initials PALS stand for?

a.Parents at lunch Saturday

b. Playing A Lovely Sound

c. Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening

d. Please Allow Lunch Sandwiches

Essay Question
'''Please describe in your own words what you think parents should do to help their children get ready for kindergarten. Give me a personal story about your kindergarten class.'''

Parents need to read books everyday to their children. I believe that reading will increase the growth of knowledge and reading will also help develop the brain. Reading will also increase a child’s vocabulary. As a parent I firmly believe that reading will assist children in their growth to becoming intelligent students.

Kindergarten was not the best time of my life. I had a kindergarten teacher that did not have any patience with children. I believe she should have been a general in the Army. My mother use to put my hair in pony tails everyday in kindergarten. I remember one day, my teacher was yelling at another student and got very upset at this student. Instead of taking it out on him, she took her anger out on me. I only came up to her to ask to go to the bathroom. She grabbed my hair and pulled me around the room. I of course cried and was very upset. I went home to my mother and she came up there and expressed her feelings. The teacher apologizes to my mother, but her position in the school was terminated. I hope my child will never have to deal with that kind of teacher.

I agree that parents should read to their child EVERY day. I also would like parents to recognize the importance of social skills and social development. These areas are just as important if not more so than being able to recite their alphabet and numbers.